Serving tray and method for its manufacture

ABSTRACT

A serving tray. The tray includes an elongate flexible handle mounted adjacent a reverse surface, the elongate flexible handle sized and shaped for securely receiving a server&#39;s hand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a non-provisional application based on (1) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/602,265, entitled “Serving Tray”, filed on Aug. 16, 2004; and (2) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/656,701, entitled “Serving Tray”, filed on Feb. 25, 2005. The present application claims priority from each of said provisional patent applications, and incorporates each in their entirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to manually held serving trays.

BACKGROUND

Serving trays have been used for many years. Various serving tray versions have long provided their unique attributes for various tasks where it was desired to provide a carryable base on which objects such as food or beverage could be carried to a table or other location. In serving tray designs, the use of various concepts have been adapted to assure that serving trays are nestable and stackable, and that they are easily cleaned and disinfected. However, learning to correctly balance and use a serving tray, particularly when loading and unloading objects from the tray, is a skill which must quickly be mastered by servants such as waiters and waitresses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the reverse side of an embodiment of a serving tray, showing mounting pedestals supporting a flexible handle strap above the reverse side, to define an entry zone for securely receiving a server's hand.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the reverse side of an embodiment of a serving tray, showing a plurality of feet as well as a flexible handle strap.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the reverse side of an embodiment of a serving tray, showing a plurality of feet, here tubular with internal stiffeners, as well as a flexible handle strap mounted between first and second strap mounting pedestals.

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a serving tray, here illustrating a tubular cylindrical foot with internal stiffeners.

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial cross sectional view of one embodiment of a serving tray, here illustrating attachment of a flexible handle strap to a mounting pedestal.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a serving tray.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the reverse side of an embodiment of a serving tray.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of the obverse side of an embodiment of a serving tray with only a partial view of a liner so that a portion of the serving tray below the liner may be seen.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of the obverse side of an embodiment of a serving tray.

FIG. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E represent alternate colors for the liner of a serving tray as feasible for various embodiments.

FIG. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, 10G and 10H represent alternate colors for a serving tray as feasible for various embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the reverse side of the serving tray having the strap showing a new design.

FIG. 12 illustrates a front elevational view of the strap on the serving tray.

FIG. 13 illustrates an elevational view of the strap on the serving tray on one side.

FIG. 14 illustrates a plan view of the obverse side of an embodiment of a serving tray.

FIG. 15 illustrates a bottom plan view of the strap on the serving tray.

foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from actual implementations depending upon the circumstances. An attempt has been made to draw the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of the various embodiments and aspects of the invention. However, various other elements of the serving tray, especially as various handle configurations may be adapted and included or affixed to the base of the serving tray, as well as different embodiments of artistic elements such as handle designs, may be utilized, in order to provide a robust serving tray with handle for securing a user's hand between the handle and the lower side of the base of the serving tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention. However, certain of these specific details may not be required in order to practice the certain or other disclosed embodiments of the present invention.

The following description may include terms such as on, onto, on top, underneath, underlying, downward, lateral, and the like, that are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. That is, these terms are terms that are relative only to a point of reference and are not meant to be interpreted as limitations, but are instead included in the following description to facilitate understanding of the various aspects of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may.

The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of one embodiment of a serving tray 20 having an elongate flexible handle 22 on the reverse or lower side 24 is shown. The serving tray 20 utilizes a flexible handle 22 through which a server's hand 26 is placed and a palm of the server's hand 26 is secured against the reverse or lower side 24. For the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the palm of the server's hand 26 is secured at or near the proximate center of the reverse side 24 of the serving tray 20. The placement of the server's hand at such location may provide enhanced stability over embodiments with handles that may be placed off center. For various embodiments, the flexible handle 22 can be provided in a form of a thin, flexible, resilient strap. Moreover, for some embodiments, the flexible handle 22 may be formed from a suitable material such as a flexible plastic. A plurality of tubular cylindrical feet 50, 60, 62, and 64 are provided, integrally molded in one piece with, or alternately affixed to, the lower side 24 of serving tray 20. While four feet are illustrated, it can be appreciated that fewer feet, or more feet, may be used.

It may be advantageous in many situations to have provided a serving tray which makes it easier to balance and secure objects loaded thereon. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the serving tray 20 may be quickly and easily secured against tipping movement by the hand 26 of the server/user. As shown the serving tray 20 may be quickly engaged with, and securely grasped by the hand 26 of the user, which allows the user to stabilize the serving tray 20 easily.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, in one embodiment the flexible handle 22 may be secured to first and second mounting pedestals 41 and 43 by first and second fasteners 40 and 42, respectively. In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 5, fasteners 40 and 41 may be provided as screws. The mounting pedestals 41 and 43 space the flexible handle 22 at least a height H₁ (FIG. 6) above the reverse side 24 of the serving tray 20. In one embodiment, the mounting pedestals 41 and 43 are cylindrical in shape. For another embodiment, the mounting pedestals 41 and 43 have a fastener receiving aperture 48 defined by side walls 49. For some embodiments, the centerline 51 as noted in FIG. 5 of the flexible handle 22, is co-linear with the centerline 53 as noted in FIG. 3 of the first and second mounting pedestals 41 and 43.

The serving tray 20 has a peripheral edge portion 44, which in some embodiments may slope upwardly and outwardly. As better seen in FIG. 7, a raised outer lip section 46 is utilized in many embodiments. Also seen in FIG. 7 is one example of a foot 50 which has been integrally molded with, and extending away from the reverse side surface 24 for a distance D (see FIG. 5).

Shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 are embodiments of a handle 22, wherein fasteners 40 and 42 have been utilized to secure the flexible handle 22 to the mounting pedestals 41 and 42 on lower side surface 24. In one embodiment, pedestals 41 and 42 have a height H₁ (see FIG. 6) of about one-half inch. Pedestal mounts 41 and 42 may be provided in a cylindrical shape, such as a circular cylinder. For another embodiment, handle 22 can be provided as a strap having a width W (see FIG. 2) of about one inch. Further, for an embodiment, the strap handle 22 may have a length L (see FIG. 7) of about seven inches. Fasteners 40 and 42, for an embodiment, may be spaced apart a width F (between centerline of fasteners 40 and 42 (see FIG. 7) of about six inches. In this manner, for some embodiments, a loop portion 52 of handle 22 is provided outward a height H₂ spaced apart from reverse side surface 24 of slightly more than one-half inch to about three-quarters of an inch, or more, so that a user's hand may fit under the loop portion 52 and support the palm of user's hand against the lower side surface 24. Thus, mounting pedestals 41 and 43 support the flexible handle strap 52 above reverse side 24 (planar in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7) to define an entry zone for securely receiving a server's hand, as shown in FIG. 1 above, so that the server can securely handle the serving tray.

Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, in one embodiment for a serving tray, feet 50, 60, 62, and 64 are provided in an integral, one-piece fashion molded with the body 70 (FIG. 5) of the serving tray 20. Foot 50 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the form of a tubular cylindrical structure having internal stiffeners 72, 74, 76, and 78. Such stiffeners 72, 74, 76, and 78 may, in one embodiment, have rectangular shape, when viewed in vertical cross section. In one embodiment, internal stiffness 72, 74, 76, and 78 are also integrally molded in one piece with the foot 50 and the tray 20. A flat bottom 80 can be provided for the foot 50, so that it can rest easily on a selected substrate (not shown).

As can be appreciated from FIG. 8, the obverse or upper side 32 of the serving tray 20 may, in one embodiment, be provided as a planar upper side surface 32. The planar upper side surface 32 may, in many embodiments, be surfaced with a non-skid stick-on liner 34. One suitable such stick-on liner material is 3M Premium Scotchcal Cast Opaque Vinyl with CYMK Digital Ink, manufactured by the 3M Corporation of Minneapolis, Minn. A vinyl laminate such as Neschen Filmolux Jet-Pro Satin-Matte may also be a suitable material for liner 34. In some embodiments, such stick-on liners may be colored (see FIGS. 9A-9E), and if so, may be provided in various colors. FIG. 9A shows a green liner, which may be a neon green shade. FIG. 9B shows an orange liner, which may be a neon orange shade. FIG. 9C shows a blue liner, which may be a shiny blue shade. FIG. 9D shows a brown liner, which may have a shiney brown finish. In one embodiment, logos or advertisements may be provided in a stick-on skid resistant liner. In other embodiments, in lieu of colored stick on liners 34, a compound including a thin layer of cork board may be provided.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8 the serving tray 20 may also be pigmented with colors (see FIGS. 10A-10H), in accordance with various embodiments. For these embodiments, FIG. 10A illustrates a neon blue-purple serving tray 20; FIG. 10B illustrates a neon green serving tray 20; FIG. 10C illustrates a neon orange serving tray 20; FIG. 10D illustrates a neon purple serving tray 20; FIG. 10E illustrates a neon blue serving tray 20; FIG. 10F illustrates a brown serving tray 20; FIG. 10G illustrates an tan serving tray 20; and FIG. 10H illustrates a serving tray 20 having another color such as black.

It is to be appreciated that the various aspects and embodiments of a serving tray as described herein are an important improvement in the state of the art. The resilient, flexible handle which in part defines an entry zone for securely receiving a server's hand, is simple, robust, and reliable configuration for a serving tray. Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail, various details are sufficiently set forth in the drawings and in the specification provided herein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention(s), which need not be further described by additional writing in this detailed description.

Importantly, the aspects and embodiments described and claimed herein may be modified from those shown without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided by this invention, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive or limiting. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures. Numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims. 

1. A serving tray, comprising: a planar member having an obverse surface, a reverse surface, a body there between; a peripheral edge portion extending outward from said planar member; first and second pedestal mounts, said pedestal mounts extending outwardly by a height H₁ from said reverse surface; and a flexible handle secured to and between said first and second pedestal mounts.
 2. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of feet extending downwardly from said reverse surface.
 3. The serving tray as set forth in claim 2, wherein said feet comprise tubular cylindrical structures.
 4. The serving tray as set forth in claim 3, wherein said feet are integrally molded in one piece with said planar member.
 5. The serving tray as set forth in claim 4, wherein said feet further comprise one or more stiffeners.
 6. The serving tray as set forth in claim 5, wherein said stiffeners have a shape comprising, in vertical cross-section, a rectangle.
 7. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second pedestal mounts each comprise a cylindrical shaped object.
 8. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, wherein a fastener secures said flexible handle to each of said first and second pedestal mounts.
 9. The serving tray as set forth in claim 8, wherein said fastener comprises a screw.
 10. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pedestal mounts have a fastener receiving aperture defined by sidewalls, further wherein said flexible handle is secured to said serving tray by a fastener affixed to each of said fastener receiving apertures.
 11. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible handle comprises a thin, resilient strap.
 12. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1 1, wherein said thin, resilient strap is secured to said first and second pedestal mounts by first and second fasteners, respectively.
 13. The serving tray as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first and second fasteners are spaced apart approximately six inches.
 14. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1 1, wherein said thin, resilient strap has a width W of about one inch.
 15. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second pedestal mounts are arranged along a common centerline, and wherein said flexible handle has a longitudinal centerline, and wherein said longitudinal centerline of the flexible handle is co-linear with the common centerline of the first and second pedestal mounts.
 16. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second pedestal mounts comprise tubular cylindrical structures.
 17. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, wherein said height H₁ is approximately one-half inch.
 18. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, wherein said planar member obverse or reverse surface comprises a color.
 19. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1 8, wherein the color is selected from the group comprising neon green, neon orange, neon purple, neon blue, neon blue-purple, brown, tan, or black.
 20. The serving tray as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a liner on the obverse surface.
 21. The serving tray as set forth in claim 20, wherein said liner comprises a colored liner, further wherein said colored liner is selected from the group comprising neon green, neon orange, shiny blue, shiny purple, or shiny brown.
 22. The serving tray as set forth in claim 20, wherein said liner comprises indicia.
 23. The serving tray as set forth in claim 22, wherein said indicia comprises advertisements or logos.
 24. A serving tray, comprising: a planar member having an obverse surface, a reverse surface, a body there between; a peripheral edge portion extending outward from said planar member; first and second pedestal mounts, said pedestal mounts extending outwardly by a height H₁ from said reverse surface; and an elongate handle secured to, and between, said first and second pedestal mounts, said elongate handle comprising a central portion having a loop portion of height H₂ extending outwardly from said reverse surface, said reverse surface, said pedestal mounts, and said elongate handle defining an entry zone for receiving and securing a hand of a user against said reverse surface.
 25. The serving tray as set forth in claim 24, wherein said reverse surface comprises a center point, and wherein said loop portion of the elongate handle is proximate said center point.
 26. A method comprising: providing a planar member having an obverse surface, a reverse surface, a body there between, a peripheral edge portion extending outward from said planar member, a first and a second pedestal mount, said pedestal mounts extending outwardly by a height H₁ from said reverse surface, a flexible handle secured to and between said first and second pedestal mounts, said flexible handle and said first and second pedestal mounts sized and shaped to secure a hand of a user against the reverse surface; and transporting items on said obverse surface from a first location to a second location while a user's hand is secured against the reverse surface.
 27. A method for making a serving tray, comprising: forming a planar member having an obverse surface, a reverse surface, a body there between, a peripheral edge portion extending outward from said planar member, a first and a second pedestal mount, said pedestal mounts extending outwardly by a height H₁ from said reverse surface, a plurality of feet extending downwardly from said reverse surface; and providing a flexible handle secured to and between said first and second pedestal mounts.
 28. The method as set forth in claim 27, wherein said plurality of feet are integrally molded in one piece with said planar member. 